reconnaissance

noun

re·​con·​nais·​sance ri-ˈkä-nə-zən(t)s 

-sən(t)s

: a preliminary survey to gain information

especially : an exploratory military survey of enemy territory

Examples of reconnaissance in a Sentence

There are two helicopters available for reconnaissance.

They did a reconnaissance of the enemy's position.

Recent Examples on the Web

Military reconnaissance platforms could operate reliably in the harshest conditions, from arctic temperatures to desert heat. —Siyu Huang, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

When shown reconnaissance photos of football pitches in Cienfuegos in 1970, the U.S.’s then-national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, demanded to see President Richard Nixon immediately. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 June 2025

This is particularly true when aerial reconnaissance or extraction is required. —Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 23 June 2025

Over the years, Tehran has built up a network of hacking groups to conduct reconnaissance, disinformation, data theft, sabotage and influence operations. —Nakissa Jahanbani, The Conversation, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, recognition, from Middle French reconoissance, from Old French reconoistre to recognize

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

reconnaissance

noun

re·​con·​nais·​sance ri-ˈkän-ə-zən(t)s 

: a survey (as of enemy territory) to gain information